The place is New York; the year is 1939. War is the backdrop of Amy Ephron’s latest novel, a suspenseful noir that travels between the bohemians of Greenwich Village and the aristocrats of uptown. But the society set is far more preoccupied with another matter: the mysterious disappearance of heiress Jane Abbott. None more so than her best friend, Liza, who is haunted by the foreboding last words Jane said to her. Unseasonably Cold’s atmosphere is Wharton and Towles; its page-turning plot is pure Christie. ($30.25, amazon.com) —Paulina Prosnitz

If you find yourself in the Santa Barbara vicinity, a detour to Bar Le Côte, in Los Olivos, is worth the drive. Born from the same team as the Michelin-starred Bell’s, in nearby Los Alamos, the restaurant is a vibrant love letter to local waters. We suggest beginning with the Peruvian scallops, brightened by tangerine and mint, and then getting a bit messy with the peel-and-eat shrimp. Finally, indulge in the savory Basque cheesecake, which arrives topped with a layer of royal caviar for a decadent flourish. (barlecote.com) —Rachel LeSage

“’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s immortal line perfectly captures how we at Air Mail feel about the 2024 closure of En Japanese Brasserie. Lucky for us, owner Reika Alexander is now bottling nostalgia with a homemade ginger ale named after her grandfather: Kasé. Available on a few menus around town (including at Cote, Sake No Hana, and Café Chrystie), it’s made with fresh ginger, light brown sugar, and a blend of nine spices, from rosemary to dried chili pepper. One sip is sure to excite the taste buds—and take you back to Hudson Street. ($66, kasejapanesecooking.com) —Gracie Wiener

If your idea of a well-set table goes beyond the linen closet, L’Objet’s new Grand Tour collection is worth a look. Inspired by 17th-to-19th-century European travel—and founder Elad Yifrach’s own trips, including to Rome’s Villa Borghese—the 16-piece porcelain line leans into a sense of escape. The motifs are botanical, like flowers from a traveler’s notebook. They nod to pietra dura, the Florentine inlay technique, here translated into jewel-toned decals with hand-applied, 24-karat-gold accents. (from $60, l-objet.com) —Elena Clavarino

Nothing brightens your coffee table quite like a book dedicated solely to rainbow-hued art. Rainbow Dreams does just that. Compiling more than 200 works with selections ranging from Takashi Murakami’s smiling rainbow flowers to Jeff Koons’s playful metallic sculptures, the volume explores the experimental use of color in contemporary art. It’s bound by a rainbow gradient that extends to the edges of the page and is a visual treat that can only be described with one word: radiant. ($39.95, phaidon.com) —Maggie Turner

If you think all mattresses are created equal, allow Hästens to politely, but firmly, correct you. Handcrafted since 1852, these Swedish masterpieces are made with layers of natural horsehair, cotton, wool, and flax, designed to cradle your body while wicking away moisture and regulating temperature. And what of the accompanying pillow menu? Let’s just say your neck will consider early retirement. Prices start around $9,000, so, yes, they are an investment, but one that your spine and your sleep-deprived soul will thank you for. Not ready to take the plunge on your own Hästens? Modernhaus in SoHo has outfitted their hotel with the full Hästens mattress-and-pillow experience. Lie down, sink in, and test-drive bliss. (hastens.com) —Jen Noyes